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Maine Man Charged in Loonfest Pedestrian Crash Held After Police Pursuit and Collision With Cruiser

Signs of drug impairment, a presumptive methamphetamine field test and blood toxicology pending may lead prosecutors to add charges.

Overview

  • Police say Carl Hartley, 57, led officers on a pursuit on Sunday before turning his pickup into a downtown parking lot and striking the driver’s side of a Lincoln police cruiser, briefly trapping an officer who was not injured.
  • Hartley was already charged in the July 18 Loonfest crash that left 24-year-old Jasmine Drew airlifted with serious injuries and her fiancé and two young children treated at the scene.
  • Officers reported Hartley showed signs of drug impairment, registered a 0.00 blood alcohol result on an Intoxilyzer, declined a full drug recognition evaluation, voluntarily gave a blood sample and had suspected drugs in his vehicle that field-tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine.
  • Prosecutors have charged Hartley with new counts including criminal operating under the influence of drugs, aggravated criminal mischief, refusing to stop for police and violation of release conditions, and a judge revoked his earlier bail so he remains jailed.
  • The investigation is active, toxicology results are pending, and the injured family continues medical care while the community has organized fundraising to help cover recovery costs.